Corporate Sponsor FirstBank Makes a Deep and Meaningful Impact on Pedal 4 Possible

This year, FirstBank—a longstanding corporate sponsor—will be Craig Hospital’s Pedal 4 Possible Presenting Sponsor, as well as the Team Craig Patient Sponsor.*

The bank’s generosity and commitment to giving back to the community is no surprise.

Founded in 1963 in Lakewood, Colorado, FirstBank has always been dedicated to “banking for good.” The company shares that they believe strongly in doing what is right for customers, communities and employees. In fact, focusing beyond the bottom line and making people a central motivation for every decision is the company’s mission.

And it’s this mission that supported Chris Kelley—FirstBank’s Executive Vice President, Digital Banking, and Craig Hospital Board Treasurer—when he was a patient at Craig back in the summer of 2012.

A Life-Changing Dive

It was July Fourth weekend when Chris, who was 26 years old at the time, traveled to Nebraska to spend the holiday with college friends.

“I dove into a lake that was not as deep as I thought,” he recalls. “And I hit my head on the bottom, immediately injuring my C4 and C5.”

Chris was quickly transported by helicopter to Denver, where he spent several weeks in the ICU. “While I was getting prepped for spinal surgery, my wife, Stacy, went home and took a pregnancy test,” he says. “My post-surgery gift was finding out that we were pregnant with our son, Corban, who is now 12 years old.”

He adds, “The timing ended up being a blessing because it gave me something positive and exciting to focus on. Instead of worrying about how I would live life in a wheelchair, I concentrated on the joys of being a new dad.”

A Mission of Giving

After a few weeks, Chris transferred to Craig for three months of spinal cord injury neurorehabilitation. “While I was at Craig, FirstBank did so much to support me and my family. As an employee-owned company, they view their employees as part of the family,” he says. “Not only did many of my colleagues, including the CEO, visit me at Craig and help me through the difficult transition back to work, but the bank became a large supporter of the hospital’s capital campaign.”

Additionally, Chris’s father, Ken, sat on Craig’s board of directors for two terms, before Chris followed in his footsteps and joined the hospital board as treasurer in 2023.

“I love being involved at Craig because it’s my way of saying thank you and giving back,” he explains. “The Hospital has done so much for me. I don’t know where I’d be without Craig. I strongly believe in the Hospital’s mission and enjoy the Craig family, which has become my family.

He adds, “FirstBank has stepped in to support the hospital in so many ways, which is very encouraging to employees who are inspired to give back to the community. From serving on the hospital board and helping sponsor numerous events, to riding in Pedal 4 Possible this October, I am extremely thankful to be part of Craig. It really is a family affair!”

Learn more and register for Pedal 4 Possible.

Learn more about becoming a corporate sponsor.

*Team Craig is an on-campus version of Pedal 4 Possible, held during P4P. It is a fun-filled day of physical camaraderie and therapy-related activities, sponsored by FirstBank.